The Anti-Macro Podcast

Ep. 102 - Aesthetics & Aging: Rethinking Beauty, Health, and Self-Love (ft. Dr. Natalya Borakowski, Naturopathic Physician)

In this conversation, I’m joined by naturopathic physician and aesthetic medicine specialist Dr. Natalya Borakowski to explore the intersection of beauty, physiology, and self-trust. With nearly two decades of experience in cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Borakowski shares how her work has evolved beyond external treatments into deeper conversations around identity, aging, and the psychological drivers behind why women feel the need to “fix” themselves. We unpack the growing tension around aesthetics and how many women find themselves caught in a cycle of chasing the next treatment, product, or protocol in hopes of finally feeling confident in their own skin. This episode connects the dots between internal health, stress, behavior, and how we experience our appearance, and challenges the idea that doing more is the solution. In this episode, we cover: * What aesthetic medicine is and where it can be supportive vs. harmful * The psychology behind “fixing” your appearance and where it often goes wrong * How beauty standards and social media shape self-perception * The difference between self-care and outcome-chasing * Why “just one more treatment” often turns into a cycle * How chronic stress impacts skin, aging, and overall appearance * The role of internal health (nutrition, sleep, recovery) in how we age * Why external interventions can’t replace foundational health habits * How to approach aesthetics from a place of self-trust instead of insecurity * The importance of asking “why” before making changes to your body If you feel caught between wanting to age naturally and wanting to change your appearance this conversation will give you a more grounded, honest way to think about beauty, health, and self-worth. Connect with Dr. Natalya https://unveilyou.life/ [https://unveilyou.life/] Instagram: @desertbloomskincare [https://www.instagram.com/desertbloomskincare/]

Ep. 101 - Why I’m No Longer Anti-Macro (And What Actually Changed)

Macro tracking has become one of the most polarizing tools in the health and fitness space. For some, it provides structure, clarity, and measurable progress. For others, it reinforces control, rigidity, and a disordered relationship with food. For a long time, I sat firmly in the second camp. In this episode, I’m sharing why I built my coaching philosophy around being “anti-macro,” what shaped that perspective, and what ultimately led me to change my mind. This isn’t a conversation about macros being good or bad. It’s a deeper look at how tools are used, how context matters, and why the same strategy can be helpful for one person and harmful for another. Through personal experience, coaching patterns, and continued education, my perspective has evolved. What I once saw as a problem, I now understand as a tool — one that can either support or hinder progress depending on how it’s applied. This episode walks through that evolution, while also helping you think more critically about your own approach to nutrition. The goal isn’t to convince you to track macros but rather to help you understand how to choose an approach that actually works for your body, your goals, and your relationship with food. In this episode, we cover: • My personal history with macro tracking and how it shaped my initial “anti-macro” stance • How control, restriction, and body image influenced my early experience with tracking • The difference between a tool being harmful vs. how it’s being used • Why many people struggle with macro tracking and where it can reinforce disordered patterns • The overlap between hand portions and macro awareness • What shifted my perspective through continued education and coaching experience • The moment that challenged my stance as a coach and why it mattered • What changed in my own experience when I revisited macro tracking years later • The difference between tracking from a place of control vs. curiosity • Why consistency, accessibility, and relationship with food matter more than any specific method • Why there is no single “best” approach — only what works in your current season If you’ve ever felt confused about whether you should be tracking macros, frustrated by past experiences with it, or unsure what approach actually makes sense for your body, this episode will help you step back, think more clearly, and make a more informed decision. Connect With Coach DianaInstagram, YouTube, TikTok: @coachdianaleighEmail: coachdianaleigh@gmail.com

Ep. 100 - Chronic Gut Stress: Why Fat Loss and Muscle Gain Stall

Fat loss and muscle gain are often framed as simple equations — eat the right amount, train hard, stay consistent. And while those factors absolutely matter, they aren’t the whole story. Your internal physiology plays a major role in how your body utilizes energy, recovers from training, and responds to nutrition. In this episode, we explore a factor that is frequently overlooked in conversations about body composition: digestive health. Chronic gut dysfunction doesn’t just cause uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, reflux, gas, or irregular digestion. It can also create ongoing low-grade inflammation and stress signaling within the body. Over time, this can affect cortisol regulation, blood sugar control, recovery, and how efficiently your body uses energy. When these systems become dysregulated, fat loss and muscle gain can become significantly harder — not because you’re doing something wrong, but because your body is adapting to a chronically stressed internal environment. This episode walks through how gut dysfunction can trigger a cascade of physiological effects that influence metabolism, recovery, hormone signaling, and body composition. More importantly, it helps you understand how to identify these patterns and where to start if digestive stress may be contributing to a plateau. The goal isn’t to make body composition feel more complicated — it’s to provide clarity so you can approach your health and fitness goals more strategically instead of simply pushing harder. In this episode, we cover: • Why chronic gut dysfunction acts as a persistent stress signal in the body • How inflammation from digestive distress influences cortisol regulation • The connection between chronic stress signaling, blood sugar regulation, and insulin resistance • Why impaired glucose control can slow energy expenditure and lower daily calorie burn • How chronic stress and sympathetic activation affect digestion and nutrient absorption • The role digestion plays in hormone balance, including thyroid and sex hormones • Why gut dysfunction can interfere with muscle recovery and growth • How digestive stress can impact sleep quality and recovery from training • Signs your digestion may be contributing to stalled fat loss or muscle gain • Foundational strategies that help restore digestive stability and reduce chronic gut stress If you’ve been feeling stuck in your body composition goals despite putting in consistent effort, this episode will help you better understand what might be happening beneath the surface — and why supporting your digestive system may be an important first step. Connect With Coach Diana Instagram, YouTube, TikTok: @coachdianaleigh Email: coachdianaleigh@gmail.com

Ep. 99 - When “Discipline” Breaks Your Body: RED-S, Recovery, and Rebuilding (ft. Alysa Reyes, Functional Nutrition and Metabolism Specialist)

In this conversation, I’m joined by Functional Nutrition and Metabolism Specialist Alysa Reyes to unpack what happens when discipline becomes misapplied and starts working against your physiology. Alysa shares her story of losing her menstrual cycle for nearly nine years due to under-fueling and overtraining, being repeatedly told it was “normal,” and navigating the cascade that followed — thyroid dysfunction, hormonal shutdown, burnout, and years of medical gaslighting. We walk through what RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) actually is, why a missing period is never something to ignore, and how high-achieving, Type A women often double down on control when their body is asking for recovery. This episode connects the dots between under-eating, over-training, stress, nervous system load, and hormonal dysfunction and shows why the path forward isn’t another extreme protocol, but rebuilding foundations. In this episode, we cover: * What RED-S actually is and how it develops * Why losing your period is a physiological red flag, not an inconvenience * How bodybuilding-style dieting often gets confused with health * The cascade from under-fueling → thyroid dysfunction → hormonal shutdown * Why eating more and training less can be the turning point * The psychology of the disciplined, high-achieving woman who struggles to slow down * How poor recovery (especially sleep) compounds hormonal dysfunction * Why gut protocols won’t work if your relationship with food is still chaotic * The difference between structured tools and rigid restriction * What true sustainability looks like after athletics, dieting, or burnout If you’ve been told your labs are “normal” but you don’t feel well… If your cycle is irregular, painful, or missing… If you keep thinking you just need to tighten things up a little more… This conversation will likely hit close to home. Connect with Alysa:Instagram: @alee_reyes24 [https://www.instagram.com/alee_reyes24] @beyondtheweightscoaching [https://www.instagram.com/beyondtheweightscoaching/]Beyond The Weights Podcast

Ep. 98 - Food Noise: What’s Actually Driving It (and What Helps)

If you’ve ever felt like food takes up way more mental space than it should — even when you’re trying to eat “well” — this episode is for you. Food noise is a term that’s everywhere right now, but it’s often treated like a willpower issue or something that can be silenced with a single solution. In this episode, I slow the conversation down to explore what food noise actually is, why so many people experience it, and why the answer is usually more complex than we want it to be. We unpack food noise from both a physiological and psychological perspective, explaining how your body’s adaptive responses to overeating, chronic dieting, nutrient deficiencies, stress, and diet culture can all contribute to persistent thoughts about food, cravings, and difficulty feeling satisfied. This episode is about helping you understand why food noise happens — not to blame yourself, but to recognize that your body and brain are often responding logically to the inputs they’ve been given. And once you understand those drivers, it becomes much easier to know what actually helps reduce food noise in a sustainable way. In this episode, we cover: * What food noise is and how it differs from normal hunger or food thoughts * How the Standard American Diet and chronic overeating can disrupt satiety and reward signaling * Why insulin, dopamine, and leptin all play a role in cravings and satisfaction * How chronic dieting and low energy availability can amplify hunger and food obsession * The impact of nutrient deficiencies on appetite, mood, and cravings * Why food noise isn’t just physiological — and how diet culture shapes our relationship with food * Where GLP-1 medications fit into the conversation (and where they don’t) * What a whole-health approach to reducing food noise actually looks like If you’ve struggled with food noise, my hope is that this episode helps you feel less confused and less alone — and gives you a clearer path forward that doesn’t rely on tighter control or quick fixes. And if you’re someone who hasn’t experienced food noise personally, I hope this conversation helps build understanding and empathy for those who are navigating it. Connect With Coach Diana Instagram, YouTube, TikTok: @coachdianaleigh Email coachdianaleigh@gmail.com